Clyde & Co > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Clyde & Co > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

Now known as Clyde & Co (following the rebranding of the merged operations of the former Grasty Quintana Majlis and Halern Pino in August 2022), the office fields a mining group that has significant experience in assisting both Chilean and foreign mining companies with mining title reviews, mining concessions-related due diligence, option and royalty agreements, financing and project development. It also fields experts in land use and easements, mining M&A and disputes, construction issues, and environmental, permitting and regulatory matters. While the firm will no longer be offering mining property services via former subsidiary Tecnomin, the practice continues to be led by Hugo Prieto, who has long had a role in natural resources and energy sector in addition to his corporate and real estate activity, but now in conjunction with projects and construction specialist, Juan Pablo Halpern. Key associate-level support is provided by José Francisco Osman, whose practice covers option agreements, easements and service provision agreements in the mining sector.

Chile > Insurance Tier 3

Clyde & Co‘s insurance group is well known for its credentials in litigation (civil liability, recoveries and coverage issues), regulatory (compliance of policies with local regulations) and corporate matters, and is regularly sought out by reinsurers looking to work in Chile. Key figures within the practice are Jorge Meneses, who heads both the insurance and insurance dispute resolution practices; insurance-related corporate/M&A and finance specialist, Franco Acchiardo; and experienced senior associate Alejandro Quintana V, who focuses exclusively on insurance work. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the January 2023 arrival of Felipe Hoetz, formerly a name partner at Acuña, Hoetz & Cifuentes; he retains his position as Lloyd's of London de facto attorney in Chile

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

The August 2022 merger of Halpern Pino and Grasty Quintana Majlis (which already had an association with London-based international firm Clyde & Co) gave rise to what is now known as Clyde & Co. The firm’s labour and employment department includes successful collective bargaining processes and union-relation management, as well as advice on Covid-19-related reorganisations, terminations, lawsuits and individual labour matters, along with assistance regarding adaptation to the 2017 Labour Reform. The practice is led by Christian Alvarado , who assists major domestic and foreign companies with collective negotiations and dispute resolution. At associate level, senior Agustin Alcalde Santibañez  and Lily Torrejón  are both experienced in labour matters. Former senior Patricio Riquelme  moved to Montt Casado & Rettig Abogados in September 2021.

Chile > Real estate Tier 3

Established following the August-2022 merger of Grasty Quintana Majlis (which already had an association with the London-headquartered firm) and Halpern Pino, Clyde & Co fields a four-member team that assists with the full range of real estate projects work. Typical areas include advising on real estate conveyancing, construction agreements, real estate joint ownership regulations and real estate finance. It also assists with leases, project administration contracts and administrative regularisations. Heading up the real estate practice is Hugo Prieto , whose expertise covers acquisitions, leasing, property sales, and due diligence processes. Associate José Francisco Osman actively advises national and foreign clients on the development of their projects.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 4

Clyde & Co opened its doors in August 2022 following the merger of Grasty Quintana Majlis (which already had an association with the London-based multinantional firm) and Halpern Pino. The banking team is regularly sought out for its advice on syndicated and bilateral credit facilities, also demonstrates experience in project financings, and frequently assists start-up companies and venture capital firms with investment finance. Franco Acchiardo‘s track record includes substantial financing and capital market deals. However, former managing partner Juan Turner left the firm in June 2022 to join VC-company, Daedalus Ventures.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

The merger of Grasty Quintana Majlis (which was already operating in an association with the UK-based Clyde & Co) and Halpern Pino led to the founding of Clyde & Co in August 2022. Its seven-strong practice is highly experienced in M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations; it has particular industry expertise across the insurance, agricultural, mining, finance, public concessions, retail, technology and venture capital sectors. The team also houses experts in M&A transactions involving conflict scenarios and distressed assets. The M&A group is co-led by Franco Acchiardo, a specialist in corporate law, M&A, financing, capital markets and taxation; and Hugo Prieto, whose experience includes the corporate transactional matters and advising foreign investors on establishing businesses in Chile. At associate level, José Tomás Sáez also advises on corporate law and M&A matters. However, former managing partner Juan Turner moved in house at VC firm, Daedalus Ventures in June 2022; while former senior Sofia Nievas returned to Clyde & Co‘s London office where she was previously an intern.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

Clyde & Co‘s litigation and arbitration department acts in disputes involving corporate issues, contractual liability, insurance, tort claims and bankruptcy. The group is jointly led by founding partner Arturo Majlis, who 'has gravitas and decades of experience'; Jorge Meneses, who combines his civil and commercial litigation practice with public law expertise; and Marcelo Guerrero, a recently promoted partner whose litigation experience includes working at the State Defence Council. At associate level, senior Andrés Cabello acts in civil and arbitral disputes, as well as public law proceedings, while Francisco Jiménez is a civil law litigator.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon Tier 4

The four-member practice at what is now Clyde & Co (following the August-2022 merger of Grasty Quintana Majlis -in association with Clyde & Co- and Halpern Pino) routinely advises on hydroelectric plant, wind farm, thermo-electric generation and natural gas projects. Its experience includes construction issues, permits, property title studies, easements, electricity supply contracts, EPC agreements, and project finance; and the group is particularly focused on projects involving the development of new technologies that will expand Chile’s energy grid. The practice is led by Hugo Prieto, who has significant experience in the natural resources and energy sector, while associate José Francisco Osman also regularly advises on energy project development.

Chile > Public law Tier 4

Formed following the merger of Halperin Pino and Grasty Quintana Majlis (which alread had an association with the London-based insurance giant) in August 2022, Clyde & Co  fields a public law and regulatory practice with expertise across a broad range of industries, including securities, insurance, pharmaceuticals and retail. It is particularly active in assisting clients (on a day-to-day basis) with their interactions with public agencies, and the team routinely acts in administrative proceedings and related litigation. Regularly acting in complex and high-profile cases, practice head Jorge Meneses combines his strong dispute resolution credentials with public law expertise. The practice of senior associate Andrés Cabello also covers public and administrative law proceedings.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

Clyde & Co's practice is particuarly active in tax compliance matters, including acting before Chile’s IRS during tax audits. Other key areas range from individual taxation and VAT, to inheritance, international taxation, corporate income, and the tax structuring of M&A deals. The tax group is led by compliance specialist Mónica Justiniano, whose career includes 12 years at the Chilean Tax Service; associate Felipe Errázuriz assists with the tax side to corporate and patrimonial reorganisations, along with local and international taxation.